The comment about getting the kid to school was 'noise', made by someone without enough starch to simply drive away without making a comment.
But, even so, it reveals that the presence of their child in the car was the focus of their concern.
The world's become too dangerous, unpredictably insane and violent to take a chance on 'helping' some stranger with your kids in the car. I won't do it and I'm a 6 foot 1, 240 pounder who has a well demonstrated capacity to respond to threats with breathtaking levels of violence when required.
My kids are just too precious to me to take even a tiny chance with their safety. On this topic there is no discussion, no compromise and absolutely no regret.
If I'm alone, or with an adult who can handle themselves, who doesn't object to rolling the dice and helping out, then I'm much more of a sport about it.
Even so, I'm careful, I don't reveal my identity and I maintain whatever edge I need to avoid being sucked into a liability situation.
Which means that, if it's me helping you, there was no one else to do it.